The Walter A. Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center at the University of California, Davis -- the campus's new "front door" and headquarters for alumni and visitor services -- will be dedicated on Friday, April 10, at 3 p.m. and will be open to the public for viewing on Picnic Day, Saturday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Speaking at the dedication will be Gus Lee, a UC Davis alumnus and author of the best-selling novel "China Boy." The 21,000-square-foot facility, located at the corner of Old Davis Road and Mrak Hall Drive, has been designed to serve as a prominent campus entrance with quick access from I-80 and ties to the campus through pedestrian paths to the arboretum. The three-story tower, capped with a university-blue roof, symbolizes the importance of alumni to UC Davis and the campus's desire to strengthen its visibility within the broader Davis-Sacramento community. "Hospitality, friendliness and service have always been hallmarks of UC Davis, and the Alumni and Visitors Center continues this valued tradition," said UC Davis Chancellor Theodore L. Hullar. "The center, with its inviting openness and many services, will be a point of entry for many -- from alumni and longtime friends to first-time visitors, new students and their families, potential employers of our students, and guests from overseas. All will find a hearty welcome and easy access to our campus's resources. "This permanent alumni home on the Davis campus will provide a focal point for the tremendous energy and lifelong loyalty of our 100,000 alumni," said Hullar. "We hope it will facilitate their efforts, whether they are engaged in volunteer activities, fund raising, recruiting students or simply enjoying the friendships developed as we work together to continue excellence and tradition at UC Davis. The campus's alumni and many friends have generously given money and time to make this center possible. On behalf of the campus I thank and applaud them for this splendid support making the Alumni and Visitors Center possible." The $4.8 million facility, under construction since January 1991, is the first building on the Davis campus to be financed principally through private contributions. Except for a $1 million contribution from the university of non-state funds, the building was constructed and furnished entirely through a 2 1/2-year fund-raising campaign conducted by a volunteer committee of alumni -- the Alumni and Visitors Center Capital Campaign Leadership Committee -- working with the Cal Aggie Alumni Association, Cal Aggie Foundation and university alumni and development staff. More than 1,400 people contributed, with the largest gift, $1 million, given by Walter D. and Carol L. Buehler of Sacramento. In recognition of their gift the building was named in honor of Walter's late father, Walter A. Buehler, founder of Buehler & Buehler Associates, a structural engineering firm that has worked on many campus projects and is now owned by Davis alumni. Alumni of the UC Davis Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity chapter contributed more than $500,000 through individual donations, and alumnus Charles J. Soderquist of Sacramento contributed $250,000. Gary Cusumano, president of the Cal Aggie Foundation, pointed out that this campaign is the largest project ever undertaken by the group. A nonprofit organization, the foundation is composed of friends and alumni of UC Davis who work together to foster private support for the benefit of the campus. "We believe the success of this campaign puts the foundation in a position to take on even bigger projects," said Cusumano. "In these difficult economic times, UC Davis is relying increasingly on private support for everything from student scholarships and academic programs to campus facilities. The foundation is growing in its ability to help provide these extra resources that allow UC Davis to excel." The new center was designed by STUDIOS Architecture, an international firm with offices in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., New York, London and Paris. Projects for Apple Computer, Silicon Graphics Computer Systems, 3Com Corp. and the American Institute of Architects number among the firm's many award-winning designs. The center will serve as headquarters for the Cal Aggie Alumni Association, a 15,000-member organization that provides support for the university and service to alumni. The center will also be a source of information about the campus and the community for visitors and will serve as a small conference center with a large meeting room, large board room, two conference rooms and a multi-purpose library. Also located in the building will be the International Agricultural Visitors Program, which interacts with foreign visitors who come to UC Davis to meet with researchers and administrators or learn more about the campus's agricultural programs, and the new International Programs Office, which will promote international service and coordinate collaborative projects with foreign institutions. The center will also provide 15 interview rooms for Career Recruiting Programs, which brings recruiters to campus to meet with graduating students, and a small conference space for workshops to assist students in their job searches. Career Recruiting Programs is a part of the Internship and Career Center on campus. "These programs and functions were selected not only for their common ties to alumni and visitors, but also because of the potential benefits from their interaction," said Donna Blakemore, executive director of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association. "The alumni association now has 29 chapters throughout the United States and four chapters overseas. The new center helps us reach out to establish even stronger relationships with our alumni both here and abroad."